Eagles Serving Jacksonville Helps at Seven Non-Profits 

Ms. Andrea Rizzi, Associate Director of College Counseling, and Ms. Stephanie Schuster, College Counseling Assistant, and ten students served those in need in the Jacksonville community last week as part of the Eagles Serving Jacksonville back yard service trip. The group volunteered at seven different non-profit organizations, including Church Without Walls, Eden\'s Garden (a project of the international non-profit Global Development), Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry (B.E.A.M.), Clara White Mission, Trinity Rescue Mission, Feeding Northeast Florida, and Celestial Farms, a farm animal rescue center.

\"Ms. Schuster and I are very proud of our students and the work they did last week; some days were harder than others. Yet, they never complained, got their hands dirty, and finished every project asked of them,\" said Ms. Rizzi, who planned and organized the backyard service trip.

The week was comprised of many tasks including meal preparation, serving the homeless, rescuing food, mending fences and gates, spreading mulch, mucking stalls, painting signs, hanging tarps, and stuffing more than 2,400 snack sacks for local children.

\"My experience with the backyard service trip was one of my best service experiences. The other kids participating and I all were able to form connections with each other and make a clear difference in our community. We helped lots of different people and assisted many organizations across Jacksonville, and felt as though we\'d made a significant change that would encourage us to continue doing service," said Emilia McLaughlin \'21.